glossary of terms for the audiophile |
 list of audio terminology
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EBP: Efficiency Bandwidth Product. A guide that helps a designer determine whether a driver is more suitable for a sealed or ported enclosure. EBP of less than 50 indicates the driver should be used in a sealed, 50 - 90 indicates flexible design options, over 90 indicates best for a ported enclosure. EBP = Fs / Qes
Efficiency rating: The loudspeaker parameter that gives the level of sound output when measured at a prescribed distance with a standard level of electrical energy fed into the speaker. The loudspeaker parameter that gives the level of sound output when measured at a prescribed distance with a standard level of electrical energy fed into the speaker.
Electronic Crossover: Uses active circuitry to send signals to appropriate drivers. More efficient than passive crossovers. Uses active circuitry to send signals to appropriate drivers. More efficient than passive crossovers.
Electrostatic Speaker: A speaker that radiates sound from a large diaphragm that is suspended between high-voltage grids.
Equalizer: Electronic set of filters used to boost or attenuate certain frequencies.
Euphonic: Pleasing. As a descriptive audio term, usually refers to a coloration or inaccuracy that non-the-less may be sonically pleasing.
Extension: How extended a range of frequencies the device can reproduce accurately. Bass extension refers to how low a frequency tone will the system reproduce, high-frequency extension refers to how high in frequency will the system play.
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Farad: The basic unit of capacitance. A capacitor has a value of one farad when it can store one coulomb of charge with one volt across it.
Fb: The tuned frequency of a ported box.
Fc or Fcb: The system resonance frequency of a driver in a sealed box. The system resonance frequency of a driver in a sealed box.
Feedback: Audio feedback, aka the Larsen effect, occurs when a sound loop exists between an audio input (microphone or guitar pickup) and an audio output (loudspeaker). This means a signal is received by a microphone, amplified and passed out of a loudspeaker. If the microphone can then receive the sound from the loudspeaker, a looping effect will be created. If too much sound looping occurs, the signal will "run away" and quickly degrade into an oscillation at some frequency. The resulting sound is a "squeal", "howl" or a combination of both. While audio feedback is usually undesirable, musicians and bands such as Jimi Hendrix, Robert Ashley, The Beatles, The Who and Nirvana have employed it with much success. Desirable feedback can be created with FX equipment using a simple delay of about 50 milliseconds feedback into the mixing console. The fader controls the volume of the feedback.
Filter: An electrical circuit or mechanical device that removes or attenuates energy at certain frequencies. . An electrical circuit or mechanical device that removes or attenuates energy at certain frequencies. .
Flat Response: The faithful reproduction of an audio signal; specifically, the variations in output level of less than 1 dB above or below a median level over the audio spectrum.
F3: The roll-off frequency at which the driver's response is down -3dB from the level of it's midband response.
Foley Sound Effects: Pre-recorded sounds used to enhance the soundtrack with action sounds in the final mixing process, e.g. receding footsteps, falling rain, and opening doors. Jack Foley (1891-1967) pioneered the art of adding sound effects to movie soundtracks using mechanical devices like springs (comic effect), flapping cards (machine guns), and snapping celery (bones breaking). Nowadays, Foley sound effects use modern technology to gain some or all of the same results. But like the original mechanical sounds these are pre-recorded to enhance content in movies, as well as other media.
Fletcher-Munson curve: Our sensitivity to sound depends on its frequency and volume. Human ears are most sensitive to sounds in the midrange. At lower volume levels humans are less sensitive to sounds away from the midrange, bass and treble sounds "seem" reduced in intensity at lower listening levels.
Free Air Resonance: The natural resonant frequency of a driver when operating outside an enclosure.
Frequency: The range of human hearing is commonly given as 20-20,000Hz (20Hz-20kHz). One hertz (Hz) represents one cycle per second, 20Hz represents 20 cycles per second and so on. Lower numbers are lower frequencies
Frequency agile (agility): Frequency agile devices adaptively learn which frequencies to skip over to avoid interference.
Fs: The frequency of resonance for a driver in free air.
Full-range: A speaker designed to reproduce all or most of the sound spectrum.
Fundamental: The lowest frequency of a note in a complex wave form or chord.
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Gain: To increase in level. The function of a volume control.
Golden Ratio: The ratio of depth, width, and height based on the Greek Golden Rectangle. Often applied to speaker boxes or listening room design. The Ratio: W = 1.0, Depth = 0.618W, Height = 1.618W. The ratio of depth, width, and height based on the Greek Golden Rectangle. Often applied to speaker boxes or listening room design. The Ratio: W = 1.0, Depth = 0.618W, Height = 1.618W.
Grain: Listening term. A sonic analog of the grain seen in photos. A sort of "grittiness" added to the sound.
Ground: Refers to a point of (usually) zero voltage, and can pertain to a power circuit or a signal circuit. In car audio, the single most important factor to avoid unwanted noise is finding and setting a good ground.
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